Holy Year Focus

2017-18 Focus: Celebrating the Year of Mary in schools in the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle

Year of Mary

The theme of World Youth Day 2017 was taken from Our Lady’s song of praise, the Magnificat, ‘The Mighty One has done great things for me’. The Pope has chosen to focus on Mary for the next two years’ World Youth celebrations, culminating in Panama in 2019. Francis has asked young people to journey with Mary, describing her as ‘a role model to be imitated’.

Each month is linked to a virtue shown by Mary and celebrates her many names. There will be the usual links to prayer, liturgy, prayer station, resources, artwork and the liturgical and global calendar. There is also a Year of Mary prayer bag to share with families.

Following a Year of Mary will be an opportunity to introduce the children and young people of our school to the many names and images of Our Lady and to allow them to come closer to Mary, the mother of God, and our Mother.

2016-17 Focus: Holy Year of Archbishop Oscar Romero (1917-1980)

To commemorate the centenary year of the birth of Blessed Oscar Romero, the martyred Archbishop of El Salvador, the Diocese are asking us to think about his life and sayings. Each month there will be a prayer focus for the children to think and reflect on. Throughout the year we will be learning all about, his life, beliefs and his legacy. The children have had the opportunity to reflect upon his life by saying a prayer of thanks to God, for giving us such a great man to show us how to carry out God’s mission.

Oscar Romero Prayer Station

September Prayer

October Prayer

2015-16 Focus: Holy Year of Mercy

Imagine a world without judgement, condemnation, and full of forgiveness – This is the hope of Pope Francis, who proclaimed a Holy Year of Mercy for the whole Church.

What is the Holy Year of Mercy?

Pope Francis announced a jubilee year, a very special event in the Catholic Church, called the Holy Year of Mercy. A jubilee year is called by the Church to receive a blessing and pardon from God; this jubilee year begins on December 8th 2015 and will close on November 2016, the Feast of the King. The Holy Year of Mercy celebrates being a witness of mercy and invites us all to follow the example of God as merciful, forgiving and loving followers.

What is Mercy?

Mercy is acts of love by which we care for the bodily and spiritual needs of others. Being merciful frequently includes forgiveness of others, just as God the Father demonstrates forgiveness of our sins through love.

Corporal Acts of Mercy

To feed the hungry

To give drink to the thirsty

To clothe the naked

To shelter the homeless

To visit the sick

To visit the imprisoned

To bury the dead

Spiritual Acts of Mercy

To instruct the ignorant

To council the doubtful

To admonish sinners

To bear wrongs patiently

To forgive offences willingly

To comfort the afflicted

To pray for the living and the dead

Click here to watch Pope Francis explain the Jubilee Year of Mercy in a short clip (2 minutes 35 seconds)